Access Cambridge Obituary Records
Cambridge obituary records go back to the 1600s, with the city holding death and burial records from as early as 1632. You can search Cambridge obituary records through the City Clerk at 795 Massachusetts Ave, request death certificates by mail or in person, or use the Cambridge Public Library's obituary index that covers newspaper death notices from 1950 to 2008. The state also holds Cambridge death records at the Massachusetts Archives for the 1800s and through the Registry of Vital Records for more recent years. This page walks through all the ways to find obituary records in Cambridge.
Cambridge Overview
Cambridge City Clerk Office
The Cambridge City Clerk is the main office for death certificate requests in the city. It sits at 795 Massachusetts Ave in Cambridge. The clerk handles all vital records for the city, which means birth, death, and marriage certificates. If a death took place in Cambridge, this is the first place to check. Walk-in requests are the fastest way to get a copy. You can also call the office at 617-349-4260 for questions about Cambridge obituary records or to ask about the process before you go in.
Mail requests work too. Send a written letter to the City Clerk at 795 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139. Put in the full name of the person who died, the date of death if you know it, and your own return address. Add a check or money order for the fee. The clerk will mail back a certified copy once they find the record. Processing time depends on how busy the office is, but most mail requests get handled within a few weeks.
The Cambridge city website has details on how to request obituary records and death certificates from the City Clerk office.
The site also lists hours, contact info, and other city services run through the clerk.
| Office | Cambridge City Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 795 Massachusetts Ave Cambridge, MA 02139 |
| Phone | 617-349-4260 |
| Website | cambridgema.gov/Departments/cityclerk |
Cambridge Obituary Index and Library Resources
The Cambridge Public Library holds one of the best local obituary collections in the area. The Cambridge Room keeps a dedicated obituary index that covers newspaper death notices from 1950 to 2008. This index pulls from local papers and gives you names, dates, and the paper where each obituary ran. It is a strong tool for finding Cambridge obituary records from the second half of the 20th century. The library staff can help you search the index in person.
Beyond the obituary index, the Cambridge Room is set up for genealogy research. It has local history files, city directories, and other materials that tie into obituary searches. If you are tracing a family line through Cambridge, the genealogy collection can fill in gaps that death certificates alone won't cover. The room also has microfilm of local newspapers for older years, which is useful when the obituary index does not go far back enough.
The Cambridge Public Library genealogy guide explains what resources are on hand for obituary and death record research in the Cambridge Room.
The guide covers how to use the obituary index, what microfilm is on hand, and how to schedule a visit for in-person research.
Note: The Cambridge obituary index covers 1950 to 2008 only, so deaths outside that range need other sources like the city clerk or state archives.
Historical Cambridge Death and Burial Records
Cambridge has death and burial records that go all the way back to 1632. These early records are some of the oldest in Massachusetts. The Cambridge Death and Burial Records collection covers 1632 to 1886 and includes entries from a time when the city was still a small colonial settlement. These records are not kept at the City Clerk. They exist in archival collections and have been transcribed in part by local historical groups over the years.
For the 1800s, the Massachusetts Archives Vital Records Search is the best free tool. It covers 1841 to 1910. Enter a name, pick Cambridge as the town, and select "Death" as the record type. Results show volume and page numbers. Digital images of death records from 1841 to 1925 are free to view on the site. The State Archives will also email scans of up to five records from 1841 to 1930 at no cost if you send a request to archives@sec.state.ma.us.
After 1936, the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics holds copies of all Cambridge death records. You can request copies from that office in Dorchester. The walk-in fee there is $20 for a certified copy. This is a good backup if the City Clerk office does not have the record you need or if you want to go through the state instead of the local office.
How to Get Cambridge Death Certificates
There are a few ways to get a death certificate from Cambridge. The most direct is to go to the City Clerk at 795 Massachusetts Ave. Bring a valid photo ID and the name of the deceased. Staff will look up the record and print a certified copy. Cash or check is the usual payment method. This is the fastest route.
By mail, write to the Cambridge City Clerk at 795 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139. Your letter should include the full name of the person, the date of death, and the reason you need the copy. Enclose a check or money order for the fee. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope to speed things up. Mail requests can take a couple of weeks depending on how many requests the office is handling at the time.
You can also order through VitalChek for online or phone orders. VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the base cost, so it is more expensive than going in person. But it works if you live far from Cambridge or can't visit during business hours. Call (866) 300-8535 for phone orders through VitalChek.
- In person at 795 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge
- By mail with a written request and payment
- Online through VitalChek (extra service fees apply)
- Through the state RVRS office in Dorchester for records from 1936 on
- By contacting the Massachusetts Archives for records from 1841 to 1930
Cambridge Obituary Access and Privacy
Death certificates in Cambridge are public records. Anyone can request a copy under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 46. You do not need to be related to the deceased to get a copy. The one restriction is cause of death. Under Section 46-2A, only close family members or legal representatives can see that part. If you are not related, the cause of death line will be blank on your certified copy.
The Massachusetts Public Records Law gives more rules on access. Government offices must respond to record requests within 10 business days. Copy fees are capped at $0.05 per page for standard copies. For cities with a population over 20,000, like Cambridge, the first two hours of search time are free. After that, the maximum charge is $25 per hour. These rules apply to the Cambridge City Clerk and any other local office that holds public records.
Cambridge obituary records from newspapers are not subject to the same privacy rules since they were published publicly. The obituary index at the Cambridge Public Library is open to anyone. No fee, no ID, no restrictions. Just walk in and use the collection during library hours.
Middlesex County Obituary Records
Cambridge is in Middlesex County. The county is the most populated in Massachusetts and includes cities like Lowell, Somerville, Medford, Waltham, and Framingham. Each city and town in Middlesex County keeps its own death records at the local clerk level. The county does not run a central office for vital records. For more on obituary resources across all of Middlesex County, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Cambridge also have their own obituary records at their local clerk offices.